The last time they met back in Round 2 the Warriors and Storm played out one of the most thrilling games of the season to date.
An unbelievable finish by Xavier Coates with seconds on the clock completed an incredible Storm comeback win in which they scored 12 points in the final two minutes to extend their winning run over the Warriors to 15.
This Saturday Melbourne head across the Tasman for the return leg, looking to protect their spot atop the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder against a Kiwi side who are unbeaten in their past three games and looking to move back into the top eight.
The Storm were effective, if far from perfect, in a 36-28 victory over the Knights in Round 14, while the Warriors trounced the Cowboys 42-12 last up.
Craig Bellamy's men have won in five of their past six visits to Go Media Stadium and that one loss wasn't even against the Warriors, instead coming against the Wests Tigers in a game taken there as part of an Auckland double-header in 2018.
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Team News
Warriors: Shaun Johnson returns for his first game since Round 10 as part of a Warriors side which will take the field as named mid-week. Chanel Harris-Tavita retains a spot on the bench, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will serve as the replacement player in his return from a hamstring injury.
Storm: One late change for the ladder leaders with Jack Howarth joining the bench at the expense of Bronson Garlick, who reverts to be the replacement player. Jahrome Hughes and Tyran Wishart again team up in the halves.
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Stat Attack
- The Warriors last defeated the Storm in 2015 at Mt Smart Stadium.
- The Storm have won their past 15 games against the Warriors.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored six tries in his last five games against the Storm.
- Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored nine tries in his last five games against the Warriors.
- Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake has scored four tries in his past five games.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.